UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Health Secretary Wes Streeting praises the private sector for helping in cutting NHS waiting lists and delivering millions of appointments and procedures.
As reported by Sky News, the NHS has seen 500,000 extra treatments from independent providers this year, with private sector support delivering 6.15 million procedures.
What did Wes Streeting say about the private sector helping NHS waits?
Wes Streeting said he is committed to speeding up NHS treatment and justifies private sector use as a principled and progressive approach.
The health secretary said the initiative is cutting NHS waiting times and speeding up access to appointments.
Mr Streeting confirmed independent providers have carried out around 19,000 surgical procedures and 100,000 outpatient appointments weekly, helping over 1.1 million people.
He said,
“We’re not prepared to continue two-tier healthcare, when those who can afford it get treated on time, and those who can’t are left behind. Wealth shouldn’t determine health.”
Mr Streeting stated,
“This is just one reform, which has helped deliver 5 million more appointments, grown NHS productivity, and cut waiting lists by 200,000.”
The health secretary added that extended theatre hours and technology upgrades are part of efforts to enhance NHS capacity.
He added,
“We are also investing in growing the NHS capacity, opening up CDCs and operating theatres at evenings and weekends, and bringing in modern technology like robotic surgery. Through investment and relentless reform, we will make sure every patient is treated on time, not just those who can afford to pay.”
Mr Streeting said,
“I am battling cultural challenges in the NHS too, whether that’s people abdicating responsibility, not listening to patients, covering things up when things go wrong, and all of those things undermine public trust and confidence, not just in the NHS, but in the ability of government to be able to affect change.”
The health secretary continued,
“There is a deep disillusionment in this country at the moment, and I would say a growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round. I am an optimist in politics. I think there are green shoots of recovery in the NHS, in the economy, in our public services. But there is also so much more to do.”
What did Sir Jim Mackey say about independent sector support?
Sir Jim Mackey, NHS Chief Executive, stated,
“The independent sector is playing a vital role in supporting our efforts to bring down waiting lists and ensure patients can get the NHS care they need faster.”
He added,
“Thanks to the ambition and hard work of NHS teams, we are seeing early signs of progress with waiting lists falling for the first time in years – but we are determined to go further and faster to improve patients’ experiences and this data shows clearly that maximising use of this capacity is an approach that is working for patients.”
What did David Hare say about the independent sector’s role in NHS care?
David Hare, CEO of Independent Healthcare Providers Network, stated,
“These latest figures demonstrate just how important the independent sector is in providing much-needed NHS treatment – delivering around 10% of all NHS elective activity, and a record amount of appointments, tests and scans – all free at the point of use to patients.”
He added,
“In committing to better commissioning, patient choice and clear incentives, the recent NHS & Independent Sector Partnership is having real benefits to patients and by sticking to these principles, the Government and the independent sector can continue to drive down NHS waiting lists long into the future.”
What did Tories say about NHS waiting-time targets under Labour?
Kemi Badenoch’s party criticised the government over NHS delays, saying patients continue to face prolonged waiting times.
The backlash comes after the Health Secretary celebrated the NHS’s partnership with private providers, which delivered almost 500,000 extra tests and appointments.
Shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew said he supports Labour’s private sector involvement but warned
“the truth is they are still miles off meeting their own NHS waiting-time targets.”
He added,
“Despite all the promises, patients are still waiting far too long for treatment, especially after handing no string inflation busting pay rises to their union paymasters and seeing crippling strikes that followed this capitulation.”
How did Wes Streeting respond to the resident doctors’ planned strike?
Wes Streeting has slammed resident doctors ahead of their planned strike next month, warning that the industrial action will “hurt patients.”
He said,
“It’s a bit of a farce that the BMA [British Medical Association] is talking about waiting lists when they’re doing everything they can to hamper our progress with unnecessary and unreasonable strike action.”
Mr Streeting stated,
“My message to the BMA today is you can go out on strike if you want and cost us another quarter of £1 billion, you will be hurting patients, hurting the NHS’ recovery, but also hurting resident doctors who are crying out for speciality training places.”
He added,
“I want to provide them. I can provide more now, but I won’t be able to afford to if they go out on strike.”
What is the NHS 10-year plan?
The NHS 10-Year Plan for England, titled “Fit for the Future”, aims to deliver more care closer to home through new Neighbourhood Health Centres, moving services out of hospitals and into local communities.
The plan said NHS App will become a “front door” to the health service, and technology like AI and a single digital patient record will be widely adopted.
It also focuses on preventing illness rather than just treating it, with goals to improve healthy life expectancy and tackle the causes of poor health.
